FREE

I I.'

Volume 2

By Philip R. Turner

The added expense and effort of keeping cold water aquariums tends to limit them to professional biologists, public facilities, or divers and special- Isls. Indeed, the difficulty of obtaining specimens tends to further limit thelat- ter two catagoriea to people living in the coastal zones of the Western states. The color and variety of cold water marine life still attracts many who live nearby, though the accessability of specimens may be dependent upon State laws that govern collecttng of marine organisms.

Effects of Chemotherapeutlcs on Biological Filters Acommon question asked by hobby-

ists with sick fishes is, "What will the recommended treatment do to the bio- logical filter." This is serious because a particular treatment may successfully treat a disease, only to have the fishes die from ammonia or nitrite toxicity.

, Oneanswer. of course, is use a quaran- tine tank fortreating, but in many cases this is not practical, such as when many sick fishes are involved.

I If one must treat a show tank then the ' selection of the medication should be carefully considered. Unfortunately. information about the side effects of drugs is scarce, particularly for salt water aquariums. To give some guid- ance, results of several scientific i nves- tigations dealing with inhibition of nitri- fication ineither freshwater (FW) or salt- water (SW) biological filters have been tabulated, and are shown in Table I.

The first column lists the popular medications by generic names, (01- lowed by the level used in the test, which generally indicates a recog-

nized treatment level for the drug. The third column indicates the level of Inhi- bition of the nitrification process, This is based on increases in either ammo- nia and/or nitrite, compared to con- trots, after administering the compound. It was not considered whether the bac- teria were killed or simply prevented from functioning as nitriders. The last column gives the bibliographic source code.

The Table shows that several medi- cations are risky in a community tank. Specifically, chlorotetracycline, neo- mycin, erythromycin, sulfadiazine, sut- fanilamide, and methylene blue are harmful to biological filters. These treatments would be best suited for use in a hospital tank.

Or the remaining drugs, several pro- duced conflicting results. The largest difference was for chloromycetln, mak- ing its use questionable. Also, it has been reported to be ineffective in water above pH 8.0, thus limiting its useful- ness. Formalin also gave irregular

resu Its, but both studies were in fresh- water, and its use in saltwater is limited primarily to combination treatments with copper. Copper had noeffect dur- ing short term tests but produced a temporary Inhibition after extended treatments (twice a day for 14 days). Extended treatments, under hatchery conditions at Instant Ocean Hatcher- ies, showed no noticeable changes In nitrification with copper alone. How- ever, It will precipitate onto the filter gravel and remain Indefinitely, so It also Is best administered in a hospital tank.

Furanace appears to be reasonably safe; however, Its effectiveness In salt- water is not well established. Based on these reports, gentamycin and sulfa- merazine may be used with caution. Oxyletracyline is safe but not part icu- lady effective In saltwater.

Quf nacrine Hydrochloride, which is sometimes recommended for proto- zoan infections, also seems to be safe.

Continued on page 2

I 1964 Aquarium Systems, Inc., Mentor, Ohio - Printed in U.S.A.

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AUving CoralReef - Aquarium

by John Hackney

-ttvino coral rmi microcosm, exhi- bited at the Smithsonian Institution's Museum of Natural History In Washlng- ton, D.C.. employs over 200 species of marine plants and animals to prove the success of an innovative strategy in aquarium management. This 3,330gal- Ion system supports a community that is modeled after reefs in the eastern Caribbean, the first of its kind to be maintained in captivity. The micro- cosm, which consists of a separate lagoon area attached to a larger reef tank (see diagram), was developed not by attending to the needs of individual organisms, but by supporting the phys- ical and chemical needs and general patterns of energy exchange that typify a tropical ecosystem of this sort.

The reefs foundation was construc- ted with several tons of dry coral rub- ble, stabilized by acrylic rods to form a crest between fore- and back-reef slopes. Besides providing the habitat.

required by many reef dwellers, this carbonaceous substrate aids in buffer- ing the water for pH control. The floor of the lagoon tank and the areas to the front and rear of the reef foundation were covered with thick layers of sandy sediment to provide a residence for microorganisms that are vital to com- munity stability.

The entire system was filled with seawater from the nearby Virginia coast that had been previously treated with phytoplankton cultures to reduce

, nutrients to the low levels required by 1 reef organisms.(Subsequent reef mlcro- cosms at the St. Louts and Pittsburg zoos have been established uslnm

' INSTANT OCEAN Synthetic Seawa exclusively).

Efficient circulation through the s; - tern Is provided by pumping seawater f p the lagoon to the fore-reef, where $ftowa intoa large bucket. This bucket

tendsforward on the front side and Is ed on pivot pins so that, when

he center of gravity shifts for- wrd dumplng the bucket, and causing pave. Once empty, it returns to an

right position to begin refilling. This cycle repeats every 20 seconds and ¥provldes tremendous cloud of tiny air f bubbles as the "wave" breaks In the main reef tank. The waves generated here combine with the pumped circula-

tton to thoroughly mix the water ' column, preventing oxygen depletion and detritus accumulation upon the

' reef surface. Illumination is provided by overhead,

400 and 1 OW watt metalhalide lamps. These were found necessary to repro-

' duce the spectrum and intensity of sun- light on tropical reefs. '

To allow the major groups in the

community to establish a natural bat- ance the reef organism were Intro- duced gradually, beginning with those from the lowest levels. Initially, pieces of "living rubMem' covered with marine worms, crustaceans, protozoa, algae, bacteria, and various other mtcroorga- nisms, were collected in the field for placement on the reef foundation. After thf8coÑ----"-  ¥ - ~ become well estab-

"Bahin. #sceneview of thecoralreef and lagoon rank". Photo: H. Dougherty, Smittwonian InsStVtSofi. lished throughout the system, larger photosynthesizers (seagrasses for the lagoon, macroalgae for the reef) and the first grazing flsh were added. More organisms were introduced over a period of several months, but always gradually, to assure that the consumer and producer componetttsof thegrow- Ing community were balanced.

An Important aid to the maintenance of community stability is provided by several "refugla" tanks that receive direct circulation from the reef and lagoon, yet are inacesslble to flsh and large invertebrates. The small, rubble- filled tanks receive regular periods of lllumlnatton and provide protection for

various organisms that might other- wise be lost through over-predation or ~mpetitlon.

Today, four ydam after esfabltsh- qent, the microcosm supports over 50 I aftecies of plants and a wide variety of . Mimals, including some species nor- 1 maliy kept in captivity only with great <\ difficulty. Sessile invertebrates, inctud- ing sea fans, sponges, and anemones, are generally positioned upon the reef , foundation to correspond to their dip .; tribution in the field. Over 20 speciesof stony corals have been successfully maintained, wi th several exhi biting noticeable growth. Fireworms, snails, queen conchs. starfish, sea urchins, cleaning and burrowing shrimp, spiny lobsters, and a variety of crabs are among the invertebrates that roam the surface and burrows of the reef.

Up to30species of fish, representing - the major feeding types found upon natural nets, are supported. However, fish-eating predators have been limited to occasional juvenile specimens of barracuda or jack, which reject com- munity members at meal time In favor of supplemental goldfish.

The nearly constant environment is dependent upon a number of mechani- cal and biological stabilizers. Salinity is measured by an electronic sensor. As the seawater level drops from evapora- tlon the sensor triggers the Inflow of high quality, deionized water, which dilutes the salinity to maintain a range of 35-36 parts per thousand. Tempera- ture varies from 77-84OF (25-29'C) throughout the year. The water is heated solely by the overhead Illumina-

CmtiwwS on paw 4

LIvlng Coral Reef Continued from page 3

dissolved nutrients within the system's ence to the patterns of energy transfg seawater siowly but steadily decline, I? that nat'uraiiy occur betweem is hoped that a balance will one day be nisms on corai reefs. 1 reached after nutrient M s have been decreased to the extremely low con- . canttatlorn that characterize most nat- ural coral reef =osystems. By attain- ing such a balance, the laboratory

. woujd also promote a atronger adher-

Even & device as simple as an airline valve Gan be thm source of much frus- tration and Irritation when it fails to operate properly.

E x p m a t v e ~ v a l v e s ~ u e n t l y cor- rode and freeze, making adjustment impossible. This i8 a major problem for marine aquarista, because of the a p e clally corrosive nature of salt water.

Typical plastic valves, while free from corrosion, am notoriously prone to leakage, even when new. And, since many are not true needle valves, it is difficult to adjust the air flow precisely.

Aquadurn Systems has menily intre d u d a new airline valve that elimi- nates all of the problems previously asstxiated with other valves. They incorporate the best featurn8 of brass and plastic valves, and haw exciting new features as wek

These sturdy, plastic valve8 are free from corrosion. They ere true needle v a h that prmit s6nsJtive adjustment and pWse mgut~ti~n of alr flow, An iotamat s& ~ J i r n ~ i $ $ ~ h o f i n g , leak- age.& air f m ~ lhgvaivb**.

A untque, AodiiIar *gmaigt~ a 1 1 4 each valve set to be in ~itely. Extension valves amdmily % a ed, and lock firmly in place. It is po#b

Me toassemble gangv~lves of any size, so thereb no longer a need to maintain a stock of various sizes of pre-assem bled gang valves.

Unlike other valve assemblies, these are not premunted on a large, unslght- ly bracket that must be hung m the back of the aquarium. Each section Is provided with a "Doublestick" adhe $he pad that ailows the assembly to h fastened to the aquarium, the stand, a nearby wall, or wherever desired to improve accessibility, or to eliminate clutter.

Extensions are easily added to p r e vioualy fastened sets by slightly flexing the pact. A single pad will hold several valves.

Ask for The Aquarium System*.Air Valves and accassories whenever an ahline valve i6 needed.

.

FREE

 Volume 2 1

Manufacturer of li - - ant Ocean" Spring, 1985

. - . ning and displaying colorful fishes is a popular hobby. In fact, tropl- cal fish keeping has been practiced for thousands of years. Yet, until only recently, the term "tropical fishes"aJways referred to freshwater varieties. As little as 25 years ago, tropical salt water species were regarded as virtually impossible to maintain in ornamental aquariums.

Early attempts at maintaining tropi- cal marine fishes were generally fail- ures, Methods and equipment that were appropriate for freshwater fishes could not be applied successfully to marines. Salt water aquariums were llt- tle more than curiosities that were re$- tricted mainly to a few enthusiasts who, living in tropical coastal areas, had an unlimited supply of native fishes and natural ocean water.

However, the desire to maintain live marine animals has never been limited to only hobbyists. Live marine animals have always been important for educa- tion and research purposes, but even scientists had to be content with using In the late 1950's and early 1960's It was realized that fishes, both fresh only very hardy animals that could sur- aquarists began to understand why and salt water, produce ammonia as a vlve in spite of the poor water quality marine aquariums had proven to be major, primary waste product. How- that was typical of early, closed-system much more difficult to maintain than ever. because marine aquariums are marine aquariums. freshwater aquariums. Conttnuwi on page 2

. - Marine aquarists realize good water

.quality assures the health of their pets, find many products are available to tfelp maintain water quality. However, *the most Important element that goes Ihto an aquarium is the synthetic see uh.

Superficially, all brands of synthetic isa salts appear to be similar, and in some ways they are. They will keep marina animals alive. However, confu- slon begins when one encounters elaborate claims about trace elements In the mix. There seems to be a trace element "war" among some of t h e

race Elements, But So Much More! 1 . -a - - - manufacturers to see who can claim the most. and to the casual observer, elaborate claims seem quite impres- sive. However, to someone with even a modest knowledge of chemistry it is not at all surprising that synthetic seawater has an abundance of trace elements.

All chemicals, even highly purified grades, contain minor and trace con- taminants. In addition, all domestic water supplies contain trace elements. often at higher levels than found in the ocean. Actually, I t would be very diffi- cult to make synthetic seawater free of

trace elements. In general, the initial trace element concentrations that are found In synthetic seawater solutions are more dependent on contaminants than any other factor. Sow manufacturers display a so-

called "guaranteed analysis" of the salt, but this may be based on naive assumptions. A comprehensive analy- sJs may have been performed on one or even a few samples and then these valuesreported for subsequent batches, even through they are prepared from different raw materials and will be dis-

Continued on- 3

0 1985 Aquarium Systems, IN.. Mentor, Ohio - Printed in U S A

ant Ocean Story Continued from pays 1

kept at higher pH than freshwater aquariums, the ammonia occurs In a chemical form that Is significantly more toxic. Marine animals were dying from ammonia poisoning at concentra- tions of ammonia that were relatively harmless In freshwater aquariums. It Is now r w n l z e d that this sinsJe factor wax primarily responsible for tha diffi- culties and failures of early marine aquarkts.

A major breakthrough occurred when it was demonstrated that naturally occurring organisms could be utilized to detoxify the ammonia. These orga- nisms, nitrifying bacteria, could becul- turd in a "biological filter" that would oxidtee toxic ammonia and produce relatively non-toxic nitrate. Under the resulting conditions, ftohw *(tother delicate marine animate ço.ti1 bft^tapt In closed-system a~uari~rtia fef ex- tended periods. - . .

thetr ready availability provided the Impetus for an explosion of Interest In marineaquariums at academic, Institu- tional, and hobbyist levels.

The history of INSTANT OCEAN* SynUiatIc Sea Salt parallels that of the 'new era" of marlne aquartum keeping.

Aquarium Systems, Inc.. manufac- turer of INSTANT OCEAN was eat& lietied in 1964. Its founder, a former director of The Cleveland Aquarium, was one of the Individuals most rçspodbl for elucidating and popu- larizing the pfinclpala of biological ill- tratlon as applied to marine aquariums. As auch, he recognized the need for ready availability of functional, ctosed- system aquariums that could be easily ut illzed in both academic and industrial environments.

Manufacture of such aquariums, with integral biological filters, was the prin- cipal activity of the new company. As a service to Us customers, the company also madeavailablea mixture of chem- lcals that, when dissolved in fresh" water, produced an acceptable substi- tute for natural sea water. This, than unnamed, synthetic sea salt, a modifi- cation of a formula that was developed and utilized successfully at The Cleve-

. landAquarlum,wasthepredecessorof , today's INSTANT OCEAN.

Concurrent with I t s efforts to pro- mote availability of marine aquariums

I as research tools. Aquarium Systems was aJso comrnlssiontt to design and construct n major, inland, public mart ne aquarium. The Aquarium of Niagara Falls was thefirst toexclii~lvely employ closed-system, biological f lltration ' technology, and operated entirety with

Myatk M ~ I M l i f t A,wwium In Mystic, Con- rmctlcut. An outstanding example of closed systsm, marine aquarium technology,

Some 10 years later Aquarium Sys- tems designed and built another &qua- r i m In Mystic, Connecticut. The Mys- tic Marinelife Aquarium, while located near the ocean still utilizes synthetic *wa@rrflndia one of the most mod- ern facilities of Its kind in the world.

&@rot'$ Note: Ttva My9Ç MarinalIfe Aquarium and The Aquarium of Niagara Falls am no longer associated wlth Aquarium Sys- tem& Inc. They are now owned and opwatsd as aducattonal and research facilities by the Sea Research Founds- (ton. Inc., an independent, non-proflt organizMSon.

Euiopmn FÇc(w The Amwkm-madw. phwmacmrtical quality blender is an Impor- tantcornpomnt oftNSTANTOCEANfacio- rfss in America and Europ*. A sln#là blond wfghs more than 1/2 (on.

In the early years of its manufacture, INSTANT OCEAN was primarily sup- piled K> Institutional rwearchers, be- cause ornamental marine aquariums were relatively uncommon. All this was toepgnfleb the early lflWs with the eçta6Hlfte-o w@mlve Jet air ser- vice, especially to tropical tndo-Paclfic regions, such as the Philippines and Hawaii. Suddenly hundreds of s p e c k of unusual and beautiful tropical marine animals became available at prices that, while more expensive than fresh- water specimens, were still afford- able. Development of all-glass aquari- ums overcame ihe final obstacle, and the marine aquarium popularity explo- sion soon spread from research Institu- tions into homes. Marina aquariums became one of the fastest growing areas of the aquarium industry.

Initially, because of Its technical orientation Aquarium Systems did not pursue the hobbyist market. Neverthe-

IMS, it soon became apparent that a great deal of INSTANT OCEAN was finding itsway Into the handsof hobby- ists. Marine fishes were costly, and every attempt was made to provide flwm with the highest quality environ- rnerfl to insure their aurvivaI+ftwasonly natural for aquarlata to choose IN- STANT OCEAN; It became the most widely accepted productfor academic and industrial faaarch became It was manufactured to exacting standards. Every batch was carefully btoussayed with live marine organisms,

Because of its m i a t i o n with research institutions and public aqua- riums, Aquarium Systems has been in a unique position to further develop and improve Its synthetic sea salt, and in spite of its eminent position, product improvement has been a continuous goal.

Information about the nature of syn- thetic sea water was obtained from contacts with professional researchers and from Aquarium Systems' own internal research. This Information was applied to produce numetpus product enhancements. Twoof the most impor- tant were: (1) the elimination of liquid trace elements; and (2) uniform parti- cle sizing.

At one time manufacturers felt that, to assure even distribution, It was necessary to supply "trace" compo- nents separately. Aquarium Systems was able to eliminate this necessity by carefully selecting raw materials, and by employing the same, sophisticated blending technology that Is utilized by medical manufacturers for precision mixing of pharmaceutical products with strict dosage requirements. Addf- tionally, the manufacturing process adopted uniform particle sizing to assure that the product, once blended, would not segregate as products with

particles do.

American Factory. Thà Germsn-msd*wto- matic packaging dwtco is c^pxbte of ffiling more than 30 lugs per minute.

Other formulation improvements came as a result of work conducted at Instant Ocean Hatcheries, where mil- lions of marine fishes were spawned and reared In a totally synthetic envir- onment. Fishes, especially during sen- sitive larval and juvenile stages, are the

best indicator of product quail ty. Only INSTANT OCEAN has had exposure to hundreds of thousands of marine f is hes in various stages of development,

and most popularsyntheticseasalt. It's standards are the highest in the indus- try, and so Is its quality. In 1983, a factory in Europe was

through several generations. Much of opened to meet the rapidly growing what was learned at the Hatchery has demand in foreign markets. Today, helped INSTANT OCEAN to retain its INSTANT OCEAN is the only such pro- position as America's best performing, duct that is manufactured on two con-

tinents. It is a true, International prod- uct, and Its production utilizes the best of both American and European tech- nolonles to Produce a product that is unsu-rpasaed. There is k finer choice for your marine aquarium. Ptwto:CowUsyof

& Uysiic MÈrtIWfHÈAQmdw

salved In different local water. ~ l t e k the&, a formulator may dmply calcu- late the composition of the dissolved solution based on the recipe, assuming that all components are 100% pure. Unfortunately, this does not account for the significant contributions of trace contaminants.

Considering the claims of superiority by some companies, a comparative analysts of solutions of various prod- ucte should be of Interest. Tables 1 and 2 show the results of such a wmparl- son. Products were purchased from local retailers. Synthetic seawater soh- tfonc wen prepared from tap waterand filtered through dolomite in an aqua- rium for 24 hours before sampling. Coded samples were submitted to a nationally prominent analytical labora- tory for analysis of the most commonly considered and biologically important trace elements as well as the major constituents.

The products analysed are listed batow:

Sample A - Imported product with uniform appearance, hardened into a solid block during storage (Tropic Marin neu*)

Sample 8 - Oomestlc product with non-uniform appearance, a mixture of large and small particles (Forty Fathoms Marlnomix*)

Sample C - Domestic product wlth -part formulation, a small bottle of liquid Is supplied with each package (Marine Environment*)

Sample D - Domestic product with uniform appearance, free flowing, dry powder (INSTANT OCEAN*)

I A careful examination of Table 1

reveals that the trace element levels of all the solutions are remarkably similar and. in general, are higher than natural seawater (NSW) levels. This is espe- dally interesting in regards to claims by the manufacturer of the two-part product, that the "small bottle" Is the only way to insure trace element distribution.

It has been known for some time that marine animals obtain their trace nut- rients primarily from their food. On the other hand, marine algae extract trace elements directly from their environ- men?. Algae have the ability to concen- trate these elements far above sea-

I Loncernraiions (in pans per million] or minor ana trace eremenis in rresniy mixed, filtered synthetic seawater solutions (relative values).

u-w 17.3 0.07 0.12 (LOS 024 0.17 a03 1.16 0.10 1 .Tt 039 733 1.m om

water levels, sometimes by factors of several thousands, Tbfstoaghs the food chain for thes&iautifftJttft making them adable10 animals. At tfittsame time, algae Irranaquarium can&dpoat then sametracenutrfetitsvery quickly. This, coupled wlth the physical- chemical pathways for loss, explains why micro-nutrients must be supple* mented periodically, for vigorous algal growth, like the rivers do for the oceans. Useof Seanarden* Atgaà Nut- rients is a way to meet these speclat requirements. In view of the analytical data and with a realization of the

requlrçment of marine organisms, it appears that no product offers any real advantage with regards to trace ele- ments.

This curious preoccupation with trace elements by some manufacturers and hobbyists has often puzzled Informed aquarists. Possibly it isa con- tlnuatlon of the simple thought that for marine animals to survive, the solution must duplicate the sea as closely as possible. Although disproved years ago, this phllosopy persists, apparently based on an abundance of outdated

Continued on pw 4

Car., -...--.. ".." ,..a -.." - .a rn,...".., ", ..-,"rn .Wrn.." " " w m m p

seawater solutions. Variance from natural seawater shown In f

Component Simple *I Chtorfn*

Sodium

BUtff

literature. One explanation forthe wn- tinued emphasis on trace elements could be this lack of understanding. However, it may be that some compan- ies are using this issue to divert atten- tion from real and potentially serious defects In their products.

Table 2 lists the analysis for the key, major lona. In contrast to the trace nut- rienta, the major elements are surprls- Ingly dissimilar, compared to each other and natural seawater (NSW). It Is unlikely that fnmnufactuers, whp pro- fess to duplicate seawater, would Intentionally deviate slgniftcantly from natural levels since the chemicals and recipes to closely match natural sea- water are readily available. Therefore, the only logical answer for thesediffer- mcea Is the use of poor mixing and packaging techniques.

Examination of somaoftheprodu$ts supports this conclusion. Sample 6 (Forty Fathoms Marinemix) la corn- posed of a mixture ~ r t t c i l e s of non- uniform dzç that wilt often separate into diattnct layers wbhh the pack- ages. Thissamo type of separation can occur during packaging so that varla* tions cqn occur not only within bagc but between bags of the same blend (Figure 1). Semi-liquid or pradlssolved salt mixesaresubject to a similar prob- tern. The liquid phase rises to the top of the package while the heavier, partially dissolved salts settle. Again, the top and bottom of the batch can be signifi- cantly different.

Figure 7: CwnfMffoon of INSTANT OCEAN (telt) and ftorty Fa- (ft.) Mom and after vibrating on a sloped surface.

Separation due to particle size varia- tion is sometimes masked when the salt t3 very wet, such as with sample C (Marine Environment). The excessive moisture causes the larger particles to partially break down giving the appearance of uniformity. However, any Imbalances due to inefficient mix- Ing and packaging will still be found In the final product, as the analysis shows.

Wet aaltooften present another prob- lem, high initial pH. Fig. 2 shows a pH cornpariston of Sample C (Marine

Environment) which had a moist con- alstency, to Sample D (INSTANT OCEAN). Use of a pH meter Is neces- sary for this, since aquarium test kits will only read in the normal aquarium range. Thus, a pH level over 9 would not beobvious to the hobbyist. Or#- nisfns placed In this water would cer- tainly notice thechangeand it could be espectalty dangerous If mixed with water high In ammonia, sin- ammonia is more toxic at high pH levels.

The initial pH should not be con- fused with the pH-tioldIng capacity (alkalinity or buffarln~). There is no relation between theinitial pH and alka- linlty of thesolution, Afteraflay orsoof vigorous aeration ?9 pH in these aolu- tiom wfti moderate. In themeantime your pets will have been exposed to additional stress.

Bayond these two problems, moist sate often are considerably slower to dissolve. While It Is not uncommon for synthetic sea salts to have small amounts of Insoluble material, moist salts usually produce significant quan- titles of flocculent solids that may be objmional aesthetically.

Another difference that may not be obvious to a consumer is a difference in package size. Some brands, in an effort to reduce costs have reduced the amount of salt per bag. Thus, not all 25 gallon size bags are the same. Forty Fathoms Marinemix has. over the last five years, reduced the amount of salt in their "26 gallon" size from 8 Iba. to 7 Ibs. It Is still a "25 gallon" package, but it mixes at a lower salinity.

Of course, many hobbyists will argue that It is better to keep fish at a lower salinity anyway, but If that i; what Is desired then a full strength mix, like INSTANT OCEAN (8 lbs/25 gallon), will make 15oercent moreof the dilute seawater than the other 7 Ib. product.

SÃ M o m

Sea Scope was created to present horl, informative articles ol interest f - isrlne aquarists. Topic* may i n c l i ~ atç chemistry, nutrition, marlculturn,

- ystem design, behavior, and fish health. Article contributions are welcomed I f r o aquarieis. They should deal with

1 pertinent marine aquarium topics and resubject toeditorial reviews that in 01 pinion are nacesaary. Payment will t ad6 after publication at existing ral nd will cover all author's rights to th-. laterial submitted. SeaScope is published quarterly for

free distribution through local aquarium ealars. Dealers not receiving copies muld call Aquarium Systems, to ba 3ded to the Seascope mailing list, a W) 822-1 100 or. In Ohio. (800) 82: 300. Hobbyists interested in recelvlr opiea directly should send their name nd address, along with $1.00 for pas-

a and handling (four issues) to: SÈ ,>>pen Aquarium Systems. Inc.. 814 Tyler Blvd.. Mentor, OH 44060.

Figure 2: Comparison of fnitlal pH readings for INSTANT OCEAN (top) and M w ~ M

The exraaorainary attention and Importance given to trace elements in synthetic sea salt mlxesare unjustified. Marine animals obtain nutrients, In- cluding trace elements, from their food. The trace element compositions ofsevere!comrnercial products have been showed to be quite similar, regardless of the claims of the manufacturers.

On the other hand, the ratios of the major elements In these products showed tremendous variation, a con- sequence of Inefficient manufacturing practices. For the six major elements, two domestic brands failed to have ANY within 5% of the natural seawater level and one product approached 100% higher for two elements. IN- STANT OCEAN Sea Salts had the best results with all major elements within 7.5%of the naturalseawater level and5 within 5%.

For INSTANT OCEAN, this quality Is normal. INSTANT OCEAN Synthetic Sea Salt Is blended to the highest standards of uniformity and consis- tancy. Particles a n evenly sized to pra- vent segregation during packaging, shipping and handling. Even dtstribu- tion of the smallest components Is assured. Whether you use a small scoop or an entire package, the corn- position will be the same.

INSTANT OCEAN is the standard for marine research of all types. In addi- tion, more marine tropical fish have b u n tank-raised in INSTANT OCEAN than in any other medium, Including natural seawater!

For most knowledgeable marine aquarteto there Is only one choice, INSTANT OCEAN. A3

Tropic Marh neue, Forty Fathornse, Marina Environment: and INSTANT OCEAN* are-registered trademarks of their respective manufacturers.

1

FREE

Volume 2 Summer

1985

I By Jay Hemdal

Cobraflsh, turkeyfish, zebrafish, butterfly cod, and tiger fish, are all common names

, for fishes belonging to the family Scorpae- ' nIdae, the scofpionfishes. Most often re- fared to as Itonfish-, they are character- bed by extremely elongated dorsal spines and pectoral fin rays. The dazzling beauty and graceful motions of these animals make them much hi demand by beginning and advanced aquufsts alike.

The lionfishes, as wed asother members of their family, arevenomous. Thevenom is produced by ikale lying in grooves along the dorsal, anal, and pelvic spines. Contact with one d these spines can beveiy painful. Although no human deaths have been documented, In certain individuals, a severe aOergk: reaction may result Handle with care (or not at afl) is the key phrase here. Obviously, these a 6 not fishes for house- holds with small children.

Uonfishes are found in troptcal reef areas from Hawaii. through the IndfrPadflc re- gion, all the way to the Red Sea. They are most often found lurking in dark caves and crevices waiting for a small fish or shrimp to pass by. This carnivorous, sedentaiy nature is what makes the Ilonfish so suitable for marineaquariums. They don't require large amounts of swimming room as do many otherfishes,suchastangsandbutterflies. Proper cfiet is no problem if smaller sped- mens can be obtained. These younger fish are more easily switched from feeding exclusively on live fish to a more complete diet, including gelatin mixes, shrimp, seal- lops, etc. Many experts bdieve that a proper feeding schedule is important for a lion- fish's health. For Instance, feeding normally for three or four days, then letting them fast for 24 hours. It seems that feed- Ing them every single day can cause d i g s *problems.

When purchasing a lionfish, be certain Continued on page 3

Dealing with Chtoramines in Tap Water -

Use of Chlommines for the treatment of water by municipal utility departments Is rapidly becoming the predominant method of purification. In some cities, hobbyists have had to deal with this for several years. T his is not a new method as it was used by many treatment plants prior to 1940until ammonia use wasshifted to munitions. It has several advantages to treatment plants in that It reduces chem- ical tastes and odors, and it is more sta ble than free chlorine which is part of our problem. It can not be easily removed from water by aeration.

In practice, chloramination refers to the production of monochteramins by the ad- dltlon of ammonia to the water supply, followed by the addition of about 3 to 5 times, by weight, chlorine. At this ratio and In the pH range of 7-8 only mono-

chloramine Is formed. If more chlorine Is used, then the formaUon of dichloramtne begins, which Is less desirable. A curious phenomena occurs, however, when the chlor1ne:~mmonia ratio reaches la1 by weight. Dichlomlne befllnstoform, but breaks down, releasing nitrogen gas, and forming chloride Ions. This sequence oc- GUIS until the ammonia isoxidized. Then, free chlorine begins to build, if more is added.

The mainquestion asked by hobbyists and shops is how to get rid of monochlor- amine. It should benoted that It Is highly toxic to fish, so must be removed. A re- cent article by Oeorge Blastola outlined two methods being used; (1)chemical re- moval of chlorine wlth thlosulfate and subsequent ammonia removal with din-

Continued on page 4

By Richard M. Segedl

To many p e w the word "fish" suggests greyish torpedo shaped creatures ghosting Ihiough (he cold depths of North Atlantic fishing grounds. However, the image brought to mind by (he words "tropical fishes- Is of flaudilymttemed, laterally- flattened, decidedly "un-fish shaped" aqua- tkanlmal&ButterfiyfishesfittHs"bopicd" imagà perfectly, probably because they are often used as models by artists, designers, and cartoonists In their depictions of tropi- cal scenes. Most aqua&& like to set up Impressive

displays of unusually-shaped and colorful fishes for their own enjoyment as d l as that of their "friends". Usually the aqua* will find that his choice of subjects is incompatible In a4'communBy" set-up.The butterilyfish family, which contains so may of the species desired by the aquaria In such a display, contains generafly timid fisheswhichoftendonotdowdlinthe company of more aggressive species. But the butterfhfish family contains so many varied forms that a &-up exclusively of buttoflyfishes can be as Impressive as any aquarist might want Furthermore, since these species are usually timid, they get along ratherwell with each other In a small- ish community tank Followtng Is a list of a few hardy and compatible species and their requirements which. In concert, will make upawiynicedisplay.Wewillassumea75 to 100gallonaquariumforourbutterflyflsh community as described here.

ACaribbeanAshforthe~ollection,one that represents the more "common" but- terftyftsh shape, is the four-eyed butterfly- fish (Chaetodon capistratus). It Is a hardy fish, and Is not aggressive to other species. Itmakesagoad break-inspeciesfbranewly

set up buttetfly-arium. Besides the tail "eye- spot", adults have an attractive *'pinstripew pattern.Afewofthesewilladdnidytothe collection, and they aregeneraByinexpen- s b .

The long-nosed butterflyfish (Forclplger ftauissimus), one of the unusually-shaped species, to widely-distributed with, as the namesuggests,anelongatedsnoutwith which It probes among the nooks and crannies of the reef for food. The fish is found in the IndoPadfic, the Red Sea, off the Coast of BaJa California in the Sea of Cortei. and around the Hawaiian Islands. It can grow to a length of around four and a hatf inches, and its chief natural food is the coral among which it lives. Despite its rather delicate appearance. this is also a hardy species. I wouldsuggest onepair of these in your community of impressive wmens.

Another Interestingly-shaped species is the bannerfteh (Heniochus so.). The body Is aBghLy triangular in these spedes. The elongated "banner", extending (rom the dodfin,andthediagoredmarkingsbreak up the body shape such that any evidence of a disc-like shape is completely lost Its profile is quite sidtar to the well-known Jackfodfe fish. Bannerfish tend to fiaht

among themselves so one specimen is enough.

One species which Is definitely aggres- sivetoothersofitsownklndlsthecopper banded butterflyfish (Chetmon rostralus), tt should be considered for the community tank described here not only for its relative ease of acquisition but also for its shape and color patterns. Its body shape ts similar tothatofthelong-nosedbutterflydescribed above, but its pattern and colors are sharoly Incontrastwiththatofthelatter,ftEsanative of the Indian Ocean and tndo-Padfic region. However,waterquaBtyisrnoreimportant for it than any of the others recommended here. One should be introduced to the sys- tem only alter being wed estabtehed.

Lastly, there is the popular raccoon but- terfly (Chaetodon lunula) which is found throughout the Indo-Pacific to Hawaii. Although it reaches a relatively large size (up to 6 to 8 inches), it is timid enough to be compatible with smaller spedes. Its deep doring and raccoon-Bke "face" will make it a good addition to your exhibition tank

Thedietaryneedsaregenerallynottoo critical. Of the recommended species, the long-nosed, the bannerfish, foureyed, and raccoon buUerfTyfish should all accept commercially prepared foods or frozen foods, such as brine shrimp,and bttsdftsh or shellfish. The copper banded butterily- fish is the most difficult to train to accept non-living foods and may require quantities of live brine shrimp. More cautious eiquar- ists may choose to avoid this species because d this need. Of course, all of the

Maintenance I

A typical hospital tank Is a 5-20 ga bare, glass aquarium with some habitat low lighting to red fishes. Excess food daily. Aeration is sometimes a Boss measures alone will products from the and nitrite can rise to ing a 2 to 3 week slay. A common sol

bnf l sh Goir t t f r iuedt imwr~

thatltiseating,hasdeareves,isbreathing normally, and that the caudal fin shows no ~ofdeteriorati0n.Aneroded~audalfln Is often a symptom d bacterial infection caused by shipping stress, and Udish fre- quenlty do not recover from this.

Uonfishareveiypeacefultowardsother aquarium inhabitants as long as they are unable to wallow them! To be safe. a tank rnateihoijldbeAlean1/3thelengthof

, the Xonflsh. Few Ash win bothera llonflsh,

I but beware d the more pugnacious spe- des, such as groupers and triggerfish. VAtch carefully at feeding (lone to insure that thdr food is not being stolen by quicker

There are four lions of thegenus PtemIs andthreedwarf "llons" thatare- I" offered for sate by dealers,

The black vd ltws lion (Pterots oo/ttana) ispeihapsthemostspectacularof-

. group. Growing in 20 inches long in the wild, it is quite capahte of reaching 15 hchesina homeaquarium. ThebteckvoK- tansambereachiktentffiedbytwolong fleshy spikesaboveitseyes, and extremely

AMigAedpectoralrayswithbwebbing separating them. The led volttans (Pterols lqnulata) is more commonly available flian the previous species. h differs from the btack vdltans by having shorter pectoral fin wthat arefused togetherfor panof their length with w e M k &In. The adult red W- tans lack the fleshy appendages above wch eye, and the body stripes are not nor- mdyasdarkoraswdldefined.

Smaller than the two previous species. Ae spotfin lion (Pterots aniewala) grows loamaximumlengthof8inchesIncaptiv- By.Thepectoralfinrays-longbutvay nanw and rod shaped. The radiate Ben, or white fin Bon, (Pterois radials) might be

confusedwfththespotfinifffwerenotfor the tatter's much lower price tag. Basically, the iwfiata (fiffers in having a darker red color, and two horiiontal white stripes On the caudal peduncle (fust In front of the fin).

1 When chasing food or aroused by a threat- ening fish, the radiate lion's pectoral fin

I I

Ltonflsh have an impressive /In display yet they Ueml iwy d l into their naluial en- vimnmer&

color to an almost glowing bright white. Neither of (he latter two lions are as hardy

as the two "voHtans" species. Occasionally, they refuse to feed when first acquired. To overcome this problem, should ft occur, they should be offered live brine shrimp. Even a huge 6 Inch radlata lion would have a hard time pass!% up such 8 meaL After they become acclimated to aquarium life, and begin feeding on other foods, they rarelyeatwtththesamegustoexhibitedby "votttans" lions. Both the spotfin and the radiata prefer to

eitherhideInacaveorBeonthebottomof theaquariumnextmarockorotherorno- men! This contrasts with the behaviour of the two volitans lions that are often seen gfiding around the aquarium, even when no food Is present.

The other scotpionfishes that are known as "Bonf~shes" belong to a different genus. The two dwarf lions. Dendrochlrus bra- chyoptefus and D. zebra, are suitable for smaUer aquaria. The pectoral rays of these spedesareconnectedbyskinalmostto thdr tips. Other than downsldw the food items offered them. care Is the same as for members of the genus Ptem&

Possibly the most highly prized species of lionftsh is the Fu-fnan-chu /Dendnochi-

fus biocellatus). h gets its c~nnmon 4 from the two barbels that jut out from the chin, bearing a resemblance to Its n o t y ions namesakes mustache. By whatever d the many names you

choose to call them, the "FIntastk:" lion makes a fine addition to the home marine aquarium. Remember to keep foremost in your mind that these are venomous fish, and you'll be able to enJoy (heir tea* in your aquartum for years to come. &,

QUESTION: The color scale of the SeaTesTÃ for

Ammonia runs from yeflow through var lous shadesof green. How does one explain the blue colon, that occasiody develop? ANSWER:

Development d a blue color Indicates a tevd of ammonia that is beyond the h i reading of the scale.

SeaTesT for Ammonia was developed to be an especially sensitive test because it is important to be able to detect low concen- trafons of ammonia. The more common He& reagent kits detect only high con- centrattons. The highest readw on the SeaTesT scale is often the lowest reading on the Messier type. The SeaTesT reagents, without any

ammonia, produce a pale yellow back- groundcolor.Thetestformsa btue color in the presence of ammonia. So, with low lev. ds of ammonia, various shades of green are produced. At higher levels the color becomes blue. A blue-green color could be 1.5 ppm while a deep cobalt blue may represent neariy 3.0 ppm.

High ammonia levels often occur as a result of use of medications that injure importantba<Airiainbioloffcrifilters.Owr- crowding or overfeeding are other possibib- ~ e s . Water changes may be necessary to reduce toxic ammonia levels until proper balance is restored. A-

atomakeperiodicwaterchangeswtthnew wk waiter, but (his can become expensive.

Ammonia and nitrite can also be con- I Fared to (he bare tank. Once finished, the fiRu can be washed or even sterilized before retumirw to the community tank for

I

optilollte clays, (2) adsorption on ac- tivated carbon. Steve Spotte (personal communication) prefers the use of ac- tlvatedcarbon, but cautioned that thead- soipttve powerscanvary greatly,depend- hgon thesourceof carbonandHsrespec- the porosity. Some are not practical for water filtration, Instead beingsuited for air purification, yet they may be sold as "at. tlvated carbon" for use with aquariums.

Another method that is popular In Florida relies on the '1à eafcpoint"chlori nation phenomenon described above. It was recommended by several people who haveusedkfer2ormoreyear~.Basically, thismethodentailstreatingçbatcho tap water whh chtorine to reach or exceed the breakpoint, thereby releasing both am- monia and some of the chlorine. This must then be followed by dechforlnation with a product containing thtosulfate. The -&ed proceduk was to add one teaspoon (5ml) bleach to 10 gallons water and aerate 2-3 hours. If excessively high ammonia levels are being used, you may need more bleach. After aerating, add normal dooe of dechlorinator (Sodium Thtosulfate).

One factor that Is common to all the methodslstheneedforachlorinetutto determine Ifall thechlorine orchloramlne has been removed. If activated carbon Is used the water must be tested to deter- mine if all the chbramlne has been ad- sorbed. With the other methods, over- treatment with dechlorinators should be avoided. Thus, minimal amounts of con- dhloner should be added, then the water should be tested for chlorine. If still pres- ent, add only a half dose, and retest for chlorine; repeat until none ts left. Two methods of testing for free chlorine and chlommine are the DPD test and ortfro- tolldlne test. Although the DPD is the more accepted method, It has drawbacks, mainly that it requires a two part test to measure free chlorineand total chlorine. For our use, ortho~tolldfne. which mewurn total chlorine, is more cowen- lent for repeat testing.

Once the chlorine is gone, Instant Occari* seasailcanbeaddedRemember that if the dinoptitollte method of am- monia removal is used, It must be done before the salt Is added. In many areas the residual mnmonia may be low enough that it can be controlled by the system's biological filter for partial exchanges or the

useof aportablefoam biological filter6 the mixing tank.

In summary, the three basic method are:

l)A<faon>Uonbyfreshactivated carbon.

2) Dechlorinatton with sodium thtosulfate, followed by am- monte removal wlth either din- Opulotiteora Mologld filterif

3) Breakpoint chlorination by ad- dinglleaapoonbteach/lO gallons of tap water, aerate 23 hm, then dechtorlnote with thioauHate.

Useofachlorine teat brecommendo withallthree.Thethirdisespeciallyuaeh In- with highdosesof chlorannlnefl the water.

Bibliography

BJaatola, 0.1984. Protecting Aquartun and Pond Fish from the Danger a Oilorandne. Freshwater and Marire Aquarium, Vol. 7(4), April: 10.12 7 m , a-83.

White, G.C. 1972. Handbook of Chlodra tion. Van Nostfand, Relnhold Corn pany, New Yo*, 744pp. A

Butterflies Contfnued f i page 2

specimens mentioned win appreciate the addition of live organisms, such as brine shrimp,onaregularbaste,ifpossible.

The fishes chosen In this article for a home set-up are all usually available but not g-1~ high priced. a group* they pn> vide a very lnteiç3tln variety wlth which the aquarist can show off his "tropical fish" collectiontohisfriends.Nonepresenta feed&w problem or to so delicate as to cause a care problem. Since this group (fisplayssucharangeofcUventty.thereare many other butterflies available for diema- fives.

Of course, as a group, htteiflyfishes ate more delicate thai, for Instance, angel- fishes. You could argue that an impressive community dtropicals can be set up using anoeffishes also and without the deBcate fishworriesofbutterflies;butanoeffishes not only grow to larger sizes than butterflies, they alsoarefar more tenHoriaL A hundred- gallm tank. wtth a group of hardy angels In

i it,wtllcreatemoreproMemsthanonewtth a group of the more timid and delicate butterflies- Bulterilyftshes win not be out perfonned In color, Interesting patterns, and shapes. Bettor's&

Aquarium Systems, Inc. has arranged for reprinting ofthe veiy popular and informa- ttve books. Bvtterfly and Angelfishes of the W d , W u m 1 and II. They me scheduled for distribution in the Summer

Sea Scope was created to present short, informative articles of lntarest to marine aquarlsts. Topics may Include water chemistry, nutrition, mariculture, m t e m design, behavior,and fish health.

Article contributions are welcomed from aquartsts. They should (teal with pertinent marine aquarium topics and aresubject toeditorial reviews that In our opinion are necessary, Payment wfll be made after publication at existing rate and will cover all author's riohts to the

material submitted. %%Scope is published quarterly for

free distribution through local aquarium dealers. Dealers not receiving copies should call Aquarium Systems, to be added to the Seascope mailing list, a t (800) 822-1100 or, In Ohio, (800) 822- 1300. Hobbyists Interested in receiving copies directly should send their name and address, along with $1.00 for ps- tage and handling (four issues) to: Sea- Scope, Aquarlum Systems, Inc., 814 Tyler Blvd.. Mentor. OH 44060.

1 A new, simple copper medication for the treatment of Cryptocarlon and Amyioodi- nium (OodnJum).

Seacure is formulated to deliver a thua peutk level of Ionic copper, the most effec- tive f m .

Designed to be compatible with Ihe Sea- TesT Copper Kit, together they form a r& able system for control of common marine pa-. Comprehensiveinstructionsan-provided

whlchexplain,indetail,treatmentmethods, dosagecalculations,andprecautions.

AqhmSystems A Manufacturer of Instant Oceanm

"I FREE

Aquarium Systems Manufacturer of instant Ocean '

Volume 2 Fall

w - -

1985 A. +

The beautiful results of a dry-wet filtered minireef.

Cyanide Update, a Call for Action

nla, p(uie1lçtSTepfÇçMt wç- of ~Jewpolnta had on poituBty to theiroiilnloiu.FollowuufewhW '.

hie..

inch) me& size la also bannodl Thus modem net collecting methods which could out. produce cyanide have not been available to collectors. Special government permits are just now being conaldered to allow the legal use of these nets.

3) Significant reductions in tropical fish populations along with habitat det ructh ha& been reported . Scientific documenta- tion that this change Is Ihe result of cvanlde UK rather than pollution, siltation, dynamite coral collecting, etc. Is still lacking.

4) Short term survival following revival from cyanide capture is reported to be lomewhat lower than for net collection. However, delayed mortalities .reported months bter are not likely to be due to col- lection method, hi either case, conclusive stud& haw yet to be conducted.

Continued on page 2

teverse Flow Filtration

marine muariato, only the "semi-natural" system, buç on the dergravel filter, has found ready, overall acceptance by home aquarista. It is probably found In 99% of homemarine tanka. However. there is little doubt that this fteml-fiatural system has in- heentdrawbacksandfautts,andthis(acthas driven aquarlsts to seek Improved method*. Thus, the emergence of dry filtration, trickle filtration, and other systems.

Rather than experiment with new systems, many wquorists have chosen to improve on existing systems and remove the shortfalls of (hex. wherever poxslble and practical. They take advantage of proven techniques, rather than potentially risky and expwslve newcounesofaction.Andthus, thçKxaJle mçrae-flo system has evolved à an irn- pwvtment on standard seml-natural fil- tration.

The =mi-natural lyaem Is bawd prirnari- tv on the umleratavel Alter, hooked toan air

needs constant "gardening" to rnain- tain lu original efficiency and to re- main pleulftg to the eye.

2. The Water Motivation - The water is lifted by air bubbles In an uplift tube, and the amount of aJr la sub Ject to extreme fluctuation* because of problems with airstonu, alrllnes, and air pumps. Additionally, the amount of air required, eipedolly In large tanks, can be phenomenal.

mew because meos and nolae are eliminated, and a for more controlled water flow is Implemented.

"Reverse-flow" was a logical extension. A power head or canister filter could be used to move the water backwards through the undergravel filter, providing a number of advantages:

1. Slknce. ?

2. Controlled rtwdy flow. 3. Ctçanlineu liutça of dl those

via airline and an airstone. Water, lylna on your gravel, they are now moved up the uplift pip* by the action4 air '* sucked Into your fitter, from where bubbles. Is continually drawn through the - they are far more easily removed. gravels, carrying waste matter with it. ,

The larger matter will actually be physically neatness and cheapness, or canister filtered. Then, as the water passes through FUtef* for easier accessibility and r the araveb. the liauid. chemical and VeN greater choice of filtering materials. [

Once the ¥quartur is mature, the gravels choice of gravels h teas critical, and became coated with nitrifying bacteria that the amount nççd la reduced. "process" harmful waste matter Into more 6. Since the water paÑIn through the t mom acceptable substances. A filter çystç graveto is now m much cleaner, the '

ThethirdchoiceIstoçcceptth

Â¥mol waste matterabo pass, and the main 5. The role of physical filter has been filtration process takes place. taken over bv the ~ower filler. The I

Alliance, the protect wo $70,000 for equipment, Ã

ft yw. Hit goal 1s to bçgl

Three courses of action are available,

r,

k t a w d on an undergravel filter, la often re- femdtouablolodcfllsystem-theunseen bacteria, which btoloakallv consume waste.

gravds need far leu maintenance, and the day of the total clean out of the aquarium Is constderably d e w .

surface, looking ugly. The gravel

Remember that the nitrifying bacteria get their neceuary oxygen from the flowing water. Therefore, It Is Important that the aquarium be fully aerated at all times, so air pumps can not be dispensed with entirely.

Also, since the water flow is sosmooth and bubble free, It Is not 8 visible movement- So If the power filter breaks down. it is not Im- mediately obvious, and strwllng flshcould well be the first Indicator of equipment failure.&,

In conclusion, the cyanide Iwue complicated and emotional. Docu facts are scarce, thus public opin te bastdprirt~ily upon the credibility p e m l b t k ihvdvtd,

For further Information on UWM proj contact: Mr. George Blaadola Greater Bay Area Pet Industry 43 1 1 Treat Blvd. C m r d , CA 94521 (41 5) 674-0500 Mr. Sieva Robinson International Martnelifc Alliance 314 Uncoin Street. Suite 645 Hfngham, MA 02043 (6 1 7) 74È538 Mr. Knut Kvalvagnaes Johnny Svorhmosvel238 0963 OSLO 9. Norway

A large minireef aquarium using &we1 filtration. I- European Dry-Wet

a pump wctlon. This fllter Is or locating bçkà à show tank and

with water by means of a corner amber. The four trays a n filled

Inch layer of coarse coral gravel. hree wet chambers are filled w 1 t h - m gravel (three Inches dwp) wtth a layer

activated carbon in the last wtlon.

In contrast with undergrad flitera which need fust water flows, this syrtwn needs on- ly four turnovers per hour, thus a 100 gallon tank needs only a single 400 gallon per hour pumped flow. This -rate filter does not re- quire maintenance. The return from the dry- wet filter is at the surface of the aquarium, above the water, which Increases oxygenation. The tank mint be equ- with an

overflow to supply the d-filter. This our- face removal helps aerate water going to the niter, and Is also trouble free mechanically.

compared to siphons. Air bubbles, walking anemones, and a host of other problems can occur with siphons. Finally, the water level is constant [n a tank with an overflow so It will alwaya be filled.

Chemically, the surface overflow also Is beneficial since most organks, Including amino ackb, fatly acids, etc. collect there. These slimy pollutants are sklmmed off Into the conw chamber which has a layer of glass wool or filter foam. Regular cleaning or changing this glua wool wlll remove sorry pollutants from the system. This chamber acts as a prefilter eliminating maintenance of the main dry-wet fllter.

Aquariums must be open at the surface, not just a small amount for placing the lights. but open over the whole surface. Marine tanks mutt breathe. They need circulationof water at the surface to exchange gases like like carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and, most Inn- portantly. oxygen.

The aquartot should be aware d hte oxygen Itvel. If it Is below 5.8 rnllllgroms per liter, It wlll not operate properly aa a natural aerobic biological filter. The dry- filter design provides plenty of oxygen to the tank, generally over 90% saturation In the filter.

A final note on maintenance, If the dry trays ever become clogged, they can be removed (ooe per week) and gently cleaned to remove organic buildups without disturb- lng the system.

In conclusion, this diy'wet filter has been tested for over 8 years and has proved to be near1 y maintenance free. and superior to many other aystems.A

I k i r Valve

ontest Grand Prize Awarded

The Grand Prize winner for the Aquarlu ystems Instant Winner contest was ch ccently at the American Pet Produ anulacturers Association's Deal howcase in Philadelphia, PA. Mr. Pa iece, host of the highly acclaimed P I -1

ke~evision series. Guooiesto Qrou~ers. nt r r - - - - r ., ormed the honor of drawing the winning cai rom thousands of entries.

The Grand Prize of a $1,000 aquarium s p went to Mr. Joseph E. Oskowia . binatwi, PA. I -

of Aquarium Systems AMI Idne Exteireions, md Connector 1

-

of the dry -wet fSler.

Home Aquariums

Syttena- - If à marine aquarlst wishes to keep fishes atbe best powlble condition, providing pro- WIT filtration must be a hIah priority. In Ã

ciwed system, convwtiooal.bklogl&l f i b don will maintain many species, but some may require higher quality water.

For a modest sum, the average aquatist can build an external algae filter on a princl- p k slmllar to the Srnlthsonlan Institution's 'Algae Turf Scrubbers", aa described in SeaScope, Winter 1985.

Basically, this is how the niter works. A smaller aquarium Is placed next to the display tank. Siphon tubes draw water into the algae filter where a massive algal growth Is en- couraged. Water passes the algae, Is drawn through a subund filter and is pumped back into the display tank by a powertiead pump. The benefits of this home algae tank arc

two-fold. Algae reduce the level of nitrogenous matter and oxygenate the water before It passes through the high-rate sub- sand filter which provides additional biological filtration.

In our system, a 5% gallon (21 liter) all- gloss aqu~rlimi serves as the fllter. The sub- sandfiltertubewasmodiriedtoaccepta400 gallon per hour rated power filter. Ten pounds of crushed coral and shell were used as filler media. Four acrylic rods were pushed into the gravel à suppons for a glass plate, 2 inches above the fllter bed. The glau plate was covered with plecea of mushroom cord which provide substrate for the algae while pfeven- ting light from reaching the filter bed. Thb in turn eliminates a clogging growthof a)gaà on the bed. The coral pieces are easily re- moved for periodic cleaning when growth becomes exceulve,

A light hood, wlth a GO w t t bulb. provides light for excellent algae growth. If SeaGarden Algae Hutrient* are added regularly, the

<'During the six months this experimental fitter hu been In operation, water quality has been stable at these levels: pH : 8.2-83, Am- monia (NHi-N) : 0 m&. Nitrite (NQ4) : 0-0.04 mgL Nitrate (MQ,-N) : 10 m@.

(Ice of ihb type d filter, combined wlth periodic water changes, shwId lead to a marine aquarium where coplive specimens show good growth and exhibit vivid coloration. Editor's Hole:

The u*e of a separate algae fllter con be beneficial and In many cam to wperior to algae grown In the aquarium, since the fish cannot disturb the algal bed. Totateonuol of pH and ntu-ate, howwr, will only be sue- d l if the aquarium I* properly balanced, otherwise the effects of an algae fll ter can be overwhelmed by heavy (là loading and overfeeding. should avoid crowding and wnfeedlng.

aie major health problems for aquarium

w c r e i e d to mi short, In' rtkte* of lnwea to m w l ~

treatment of Cryptocarion a d Amyloodi- Topica may Include watç

durn (Oodinlum). Seacure is formulated to deliver a ther-

apeutic level of ionic copper, the most effective form.

Designed to be compatible with the SeaTest Copper Kit, together they form a at misting mu mnd wHI covr all

reliable system For control of common 1's rigto to the material tubmtned.

marine parasites. Comprehensive instructions

vided which explain, in detail, t methods, dosage calculations, cautions.